Pressure-controlled fluid-feeding apparatus



C. H. CHALMERS PRESSURE CONTROLLED FLUID FEEDING APPARATUS May 31, 1927. 1,630,609

Filed Nov. 14, 1925 3 Sheets- -Sheet 1 May 31, 1927.

- C. H. CHALMERS PRESSURE CONTROLLED FLUID FEEDING APPARATUS Filed Nov. l4, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 May 927 c. H. CHALMERS PRESSURE CONTROLLED FLUID FEEDING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 [RI/67ZZ O7 Filed Nov. 14; 1925 Patented Ma a, 1927.

UNITED. TATES PATENT OFFICE,

- mamas mountains, or amnmromanmnnsou. i

reassure-someone]: FLUID-FEEDING Arum-rue.-

Original application filed August 41, 1922,8erial No. 578,671. mviaea and this application filed November '14, 1925. serial no. 69,099.

This invention relates to an improved pressure'controlled fluid feeding'appa-rat'us' particularly adaptedfor use in conjunction with liquid fuel burning heating plantsand 6 furnaces, and more particularly relates to such an apparatus including an automatically .opera burner to be inoperative, and automatically operable upon failure of ignition to interrupt the supply of fuel to the burner. This application is a division of mypending application Serial #579,671, filed August 4, 1922. i An object of the invention is to provide such an apparatus fcomprising a pressure chamber having a connection witha source of fluid'supply and also having a discharge or .fluid feed pipe leadingtherefrom to a suitable receiving means such, for instance, as a-liquidfuel burner, and the feeding of the fuel from said chamber being automatically controlled by air pressure whereby upon normal operation of the apparatus fluid will be delivered throughthe feed pipe and upon abnormal operation the fluidwill be returned to its source.

The particular object of the invention,

therefore, istorovide an improved P1981 sure controlled uid feedingapparatuii.

Other objects of the invention wlll appear from the following description and the accompanving drawings and will pointed out in the annexed claims.

been disclosed a structure desi out the various. objects of the nvention, but

it is to be understood that the. structure-. is

not confined to the exact features shown as various changes may be made within th sco e of the claims which followf n the drawin Figure 1 is a view illustrating an appl1cation of the invention to a liquid fuel burning apparatus; 4 p I Figure 2 is an enlar ddGlZIIiLSEChIOHEl view showing the genera constructlon' of the pressure chamber controlling the flow of l quid fuel to the burner; and

Figure 3 is a detail sectional view of a liquid fuel burner.

In the selected embodiment ofthe invention here shown for urposes ofdisclosure there is illustrated a liquid fuel burner similar to the structure'shown in the above menle pressure controlled device adapted during normal operation of the rod 27 connectin hereinafter be describe In the accompanying drawings there has" ed to carry i this apparatus preferabl vtio ned pending application. As shown in Figure 3, an air supply; pipe 11 has one end connected to a blower 12, of ordinary construction, and its other end connected to an elbow 13 to which a drip pan 14 is suitably secured. A plurality of sheet metal wings 15 are provided aroundthe drip pan I4 1norder.to catch liquid oil which may spatter from the target 16 or be outwardly sprayed and not igmtedwhen starting the burner. The target may be. supportedupon suitable posts 17 as shown.

A nozzle 18 is centrally mounted within the discharge end of the elbow-13and has a fuel feed pipe 21 leading therefrom through the em pipe 11 and outwardly projecting through'the casing of;the blower 12 as shown. A gas pilot light may be 'rovided by means pf thepipe 22 having its discharge end positioned .over the drip pan 14 and its other end connected to a-common form of Bunsen mixing. valve 23 which hasa connection with the gas supply pipe 24 as shown An overflow pipe 25 also leads from the drip pan 14 to an automatic control device such as the drip bucket 26 having a it with a pressurecontrolled fuel feedlng ap aratus, which will The blower 12' may be operated by such means as the mo-' tor 28 shown in Figure 1. In the operation of li'teid fuel burners, it isdes rable that means provided for automatically controlling the flow of'fueloil to the nozzle 18 of the burner whereby, upon normal functioning of the, apparatus, the feeding of fuel oil to the burner will be continuous, and upon abnormal functionin of of fuel oil wil be the burner such feedingd Th e novel presautomaticall interru ed for use in, connection with liquid fuel burners to control the feeding of the fuel oil to the burner. As shown in Figure 2,

comprises an oil chamber '29 defined by t e annular wall 31 and the top and bottom walls 32 and 33. A

- fuel discharge or feed pipe 34 leads from the chamber 29, adjacent the upper portion 1 ther'eof,"to a stand pipe 35 having its lower. end connected to the fuel feed pipe'21, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. A needle valve 86 is provided within .the stand ipe 35 adapts to. engage a seat 37 provided in the 11 lower portion ofthe stand pipe 35. A pair of lock nuts 38. are mounte threaded end-portion 39 of t e valve stem 36. A compression spring 41 is preferably interposed between the lower lock nut 38 and the 'cap 42 mountedupon the upper end of the stand pipe 35. The valve is thereby held innormal open position simply resting upon the spring. By relatively rotating the lock nuts 38 upon thethreaded end-portion 39 of the valve stem, the lower end of the stem may be relatively adjusted with respect to burner. The means provlded for delivering the seat 37 to control the flow of fuel oil from the stand. pipe into the fuel feed pipe 21. v

In the structure here shown, the fuel oil is.

the oil to the oil chamber 29 consists of a pipe 43 leading therefrom and having a connection with an upright pipe, 44 mounted in a cap 45 seated in a cover plate 46 provlding a closure for an oil tank 47, preferably mounted beneath the floor as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1. The pipe 44 downwardly extends into the tank 47- and has a suitable not shown, mounted therein which is operable by means of a motor 48 mounted purpose.

upon a bracket 49 terminally secured the upright pipe 44. A suitable gear drlve 51 connects the motor with the pump shaft 52 mounted within'the' pipe 44 as shown inv dotted lines in Figure 1. The pump motor 48 is preferably connected in parallel with the blower motor 28.for simultaneous 0 eration. The starting and stopping of 1; ese motors is preferably automatlcallyefi'ected by means of a thermostatic device, not shown, of ordinary construction, and such as is usually employed in connection with apparatus of this type. A filler pipe 53 is provided by which'the tank may be filled, and an air vent 54 is also provided which has the usual venting functions and overcomes any tendenc of the air to escape up the filler tank uring the filling operatlon of the tank. It may also be noted that the lower end of the filler pipe 53 is provided with a terminal return bend 55for a similar The means provided in the oil chamber 29 for effecting the automatic cutoff or interruption of'the feeding of the fuel oil to the burner nozzle upon failure of ignition or upon failure of the air supply, consists of the maintenance of air pressure within a comu on the upper pertinent 56, defined b the depending annuprojects within the'compartment 56 preferably in axial alignment therewith. An overflow pipe 59 leads fromrthistubular extension 58' to a T-fitting 61 secured to the blower base by means of a nipple 62 as shown in Figure 1. A pi e connection 63 connects the fitting 61 wit the upper portion of the tank 47 so that oil discharging into the pipe 59 will be returned to the tank. It is obvious that any oil pumped into the chamber from the delivery pipe 43 would downwardly escape thrbu'ghthe overflow or return ipe 59 as soon as the chamber was filled a ove the level of the upper end of the tubular extension 58. i

Means are provided to prevent, during normal operation of the apparatus, the escape of oil down the return pipe and to cause the oil substantially to fill the outer part .ofthe chamber whereby it flows .to the stand pipe 35 through the feed pi e 34.

Such escape of the oil,-during norma oper-- ation, down the return pipe 59 is effected by the maintenance of air. pressure within the compartment 56, which air pressure is maintained during operation of the apparatus, by the same blower which forces air past the burner nozzle. vThe top wall 32 of the chamber is provided with a central bossed aperture through which projects the pipe section or nipple 64. The upper end of the nipple 64 'is hermetically joined to the T- coupling 65 whose angled branch 66 is suitably coupled to the housing of the blower in order that operation of the blower air pressure may be maintained within the pressure compartment 56'. The function of the air pressure maintained in this compartment is to raise the level of the oil outside the flange 57 sothat :oil is raised to flow out of the pipe 34. As the pump usually delivers more oil to the pressure chamber 29 than is permitted by the needle-valve to pass to the burner, there is generally a constant overflow downwardly through the centralreturn ment downwardly through the return pipe H is prevented by a trap 67 which permits t building up of the desired amount of pressure in the compartment 56. Therefore, the pumped oil may fill the outer ortions of the chamber and flow through t e pipe 84 to the stand pipe 35. lit-will thus be obvious that if the'air pressure is reduced in the compartment 56 so that the oil may rise therein above the end of the tubular extension 58, the oil will find outlet through the pipe and will'drain the oil chamber e, level of the pipe 34.

return belowt til till

air to the burner nozzle likewise entails the absence of air pressure in the compartment 56. Thus, the fuel oil supply is automatically interrupted at the oil chamber and the supply to the burner is cut oil.

Another contingency which must be guarded against occurs when the pump motor is in normal operation and the blower normally operates so that there is air pressure in the compartn'lent 56 and the oil is delivered to the nozzle and is properly sprayed or blown against the target. Such contingency is the failure of the ignition ot' the sprayed fuel oil. Means are provided in this novel apparatus to cut oil the fuel supply upon the occurrence of such contingency. The unignited liquid fuel is blown outwardly from the nozzle and falls to the drip pan 14 and is retained therein to find outlet through the overflow pipe 25. This overflow pipe 25 conveys this unconsumed oil and delivers it to the bucket 26 which preferably is otcast metal and has an integral upstanding post 68 by means of which the bucket is suspended by the rod 27 from an arm 69 of a lever having a pivotal mounting on the pin Tl borne by ears projecting from the top 32 of the oil chamber. The other arm 72 of the lever is preferably provided with a. weight 73 sufficient to maintain the empty bucket in the raised position shown in Figure 2,

The upper end of the T-coupling is open and a closure for this open end is carried by the arm 72 of this bucket lever. A suitable form of closure is provided by means of a gasket 74 which may be suitably secured to the under face of the lever arm 72. Leather has been found to be a suitable material out of which to form this gasket. When the bucket is in its raised position, the gasket 74 is held by the depressed arm of the lever closely against the open end of the coupling 65 and thereby hermetically seals this open end. However, when oil overflows from the drip pan through the pipe 25, and collects in the bucket 26 the added weight of the oil will rock the lever raising the weighted arm 72 and thereby opening the coupling 65 whereby the pressure compartment 56 is opened to the atmosphere. Tn such event, the oil level in the oil chamber descends below the pipe 34. In normal operation of this automatic control, the oil level will be as shown in Figure 2, wherein the oil in the oil chamber, pipe 34, and stand pipe 35, is only under atmospheric pressure, the'stand pipe 35 having an air vent 75; while the pressure in the compartiment 56 is equal to the atmospheric pressure plus the pressure equal to that of a column of oil in the stand pipe above the oil level in the chamber. The oil pump isso proportioned and actuated that it normally delivers oil to the oil chamber in a quantity equal to the maximum capacity of the burner. Therefore, during normal operation of the apparatus at capacity below burner maximum, the surplus oil runs down the pipe 59. The amount of oil permitted to be delivered to the burner nozzle is predetermined by adjustment of the needle valve 36. As a practical matter, surplus oil is running down the. pipe 59 substantially all during operation of the device.

.l claim as my invention:

1. A pressure controlled fluid feeding ap- 'iaratus including a fluid chamber, fluid sup ply and discharge pipes connected therewith, an air intake also connected with the chamber, a flange within said chamber encircling the air intake, said flange co-operating with the fluid level to define a pressure chamber within said fluid chamber, a fluid return pipe con'imunicating with said pressure chamber, and means adapted upon normal operation of the apparatus to maintain a pressure in said pressure chamber to prevent the ieturn of the fluid from said fluid chamber'to its source and to cause it to be discharged from said fluid chamber through said discharge pipe.

2. A device of the class described'including an oil chamberhaving intake and outlet pipes connected therewith, an air intake in the upper wall of the chamber extending downwardly into the ch'ambeig an overflow pipe connected withthe bottom wall of said chamber and extending upwardly therefrom into the chamber, said overflow pipe being of smaller diameter than said air intake-and terminally extending into the air intake.

i 3. A pressure controlled liquid fuel feeding apparatus including an oil chamber, oil supply and discharge pipes connected therewith, an annular flange arranged within said oil chamber and depending from the upper wall thereof, a tubular extension projecting upwardly from the bottom wall of the chamber and having a connection with an overflow pipe, the upper end of the tubular extension terminating above the lower edge of the annular flange, an air inlet communicating with the chamber defined by the depending annular flange adapted upon normal operation of the apparatus to maintain a pressurein said chamber to lower the oil level therein, and to cause it to raise in said oil chamber whereby it may be discharged through said discharge pipe.

4. A pressure controlled liquid fuel feeding apparatus including an oil chamber, oil supply and discharge pipes connected therewith, an annular flange arranged withcharge opening in said oil chamber and de ending from the upper wall thereof, a tubu ar extension projecting upwardly from the bottom wall of the chamber and having a connection with an overflow pipe, the upper end of the tubular extension terminating above the lower edge of the annular flange, an air inlet communicatin with the chamber defined by the depending annular flange adapted upon normal operation of the apparatus to maintain a pressure in said chamber to lower the upper wall of said oil chamber centrally,

disposed within the chamber, a pressure chamber within said oil chamber defined by said flange and the oil level confined within said flange when air is delivered thereto under pressure,.an oil return pipe communicating with said pressure chamber, an air supply pipe adapted upon normal operation of the apparatus to maintain a pressure in said pressure chamber where-I by the oil delivered to said oil chamber will be discharged therefrom through said discharge pipe, an air discharge opening for said pressure chamber, and means for normally closing said opening and adapted upon abnormal operation of the apparatus to permit the esca e'of air from said pressure chamber, there (y interrupting the flow of oil through said ischarge pipe and vcausin r it to overflow into said return pipe to be elivered to its source.

6. A pressure controlled liquid fuel feeding apparatus including an 011 chamber, oil supply and dischar e pipes connected therewith, an annular fiimge on the upper wall of the chamber-extending downwardly into the chamber, an oil return pipe communieating with said oil chamber and extending upwardly therein and partially encircled by said flange, an air supply pipe adapted upon normal operation of the apparatus to main- .tain a pressure in the chamber defined by said flan e and the level of the oil therewithin, w liereby the oil delivered to said oil chamber will be discharged therefrom through said discharge pipe, an air disfor the pressure chamber defined by sai flange, and means for normally closing said opening and adapted upon abnormal operation of the apparatus to permit the escape of air from said pressure chamber, thereby interrupting the flow of oil into said discharge pipe and causing it to overflow into said return pipe to be delivered to its source, said means comprising a weighted arm having a connection with a drip bucket wherein unignited fuel oil may be delivered from a burner and the weight of said oil causing said arm to oscillate to open said opening.

7. In a liquid fuel heating apparatus, the combination of a fuel nozzle, an 'air supply for the nozzle to spray the fuel, a source of liquid fuel connected to the nozzle, means to direct fuel through the connection, means interposed between the nozzle and source and adapted. to return the directed fuel to the source, pressure means connected with an air supply and adapted, during normal operation of the apparatus, to render said return means substantially inoperative, and automatically operable upon failure of nition to permit said return means to operate whereby the fuel supply to the nozzle is stopped.

8. In a liquid fuel heating apparatus, the combination of a. fuel nozzle, an air supply for the n'ozzle to spray the fuel, a source of liquid fuel connected to the nozzle, means to direct fuel through the connection, means interposed between the nozzle and source and adapted to return the directed fuel to the source, pressure means connected with an air supply and adapted, during normal operation of the apparatus, to render said return means substantially inoperative, and a drip bucket having a connection with said ressure means and automatically 0)8Ifll)l6 y the accumulation of sprayed fuel tierein, upon failure of ignition, .to permit said return means to operate whereby the fuel supply to the nozzle is stopped.

9. In a liquid fuel apparatus, the combination of a fuel nozzle, an air supply for the nozzle to spray the fuel, a source of liquid fuel-connected to the nozzle, means to direct fuel through the connection, a chamber in said connection between the nozzle and source, an outlet in said chamber adapted to return the directed fuel to the source, means in said chamber cooperating with the oil.level to define an air compartmentain the chamber adapted, when under pressure, to render said outlet substantially inoperative, means to create air pressure in said compartment during normal operable operation of the apparatus, and means to prevent air pressure in the compartment upon failure of ignition whereby fuel supply to the nozzle is stopped.-

10. In a liquid fuel heating apparatus, the combination of a fuel nozzle, an air supply for the nozzle to spray the fuel, a source of liquid fuel connected to the nozzle, means to direct fuel through the connection, a chamber in said connection between the nozzle and source,-an outlet in said chamber adapt- Fill ed to return the directed fuel to the source, a depending flange in said'chamber cooperating with the fuel level to define an air coinpartment in the chamber adapted, when under pressure, to render said outlet substantially inoperative, means to create air pressure in the compartment during normal op eration of the apparatus, an escapeport for said compartment. a closure therefor normally in seated port-closing position, and means to unseat said closure upon failure of ignition whereby the air pressure in the compartment is reduced and the fuel supply to the nozzle is stopped.

11. In a liquid fuel heatingapparatus, the combination of a fuel nozzle, liquid fuel and air connections to the nozzle, means to 'supply air'to the nozzle thereby to spray the liquid fuel, a fuel chamber above the fuel source, means to supply fuel to the chamber from said source, a circular depending flange in said chamber cooperating with the fuel level to define an air compartment within the chamber and open at its lower end, a trapped return conduit extending from within said compartment downwardly through the fuel chamber to'the source, said nozzle fuel connection communication with the chamber above the lower end of the air compartment, means normally to maintain air pressure in the compartment thereby to raise the fuel level in other portions of the. chamber above said return conduit and whereby fuel may flow out said connection to the nozzle, and means automatically operable to release the pressure in the air compartment upon failure of ignition, whereby the flow of fuel to the nozzle is stopped and the fuel is permitted to return to the fuel source.

12. In a liquid fuel heating apparatus, the combination of a fuel nozzle, liquid fuel and airconnections to the nozzle, means to su ply air to the nozzle thereby to spray t e liquid fuel, a fuel chamber above the fuel source means to supply fuel to the chamber from said source, a depending flange within the chamber cooperating with the oil level to define an air compartment within the chamber, a trapped return conduit extending from within said compartment downwardly through the fuel chamber to the source, said nozzle fuel connection communicating with the chamber above the upper end of the return conduit, means normally to maintain air pressure in the compartment thereby to raise the fuel level in other portions of the chamber above said return conduit end whereby fuel may flow out said connection to the nozzle, an escape port for said compartment, a closure therefor normally in seated port-closing position, and means to unseat said closure upon failure of ignition, whereby the air pressure in the compartment is reduced and the fuel supply to the nozzle is stopped. a

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of November, 1925.

7 CHARLES H; GHALMERS. 

